Pivotal construction and method of making same



Feb. 16, 1965 F. J. BOROWSKY PIVUTAL CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Feb. 17. 1960 INVENTOR.

Fem/us J BUEOWS/(X BY R faxf fittorne z United States Patent 3,169,418 PIVOTAL CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Francis J. Borowsky, Elkins Park, Pa., assignor to George K. Garrett Company, Division of MSL Industries, Inc.,

Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Feb. 17, 1960, Ser. No. 9,371 16 Claims. (Cl. 78-46) The present invention relates to a new and useful pivotal construction or hinge-assembly including two pivotally or hingedly connected and secured members, and the method of making the same, for use in pivotally or hingedly connecting the elements of any mechanism, such as, for instance, the pivotally or hingedly connected elements, components or parts of the emergency brake mechanism of automobiles, of the hinge-assemblies for hoods of automobiles, of the lock assemblies for the hoods of automobiles, of the door-hinges of automobiles, and of many other mechanisms which include pivotally or hingedly connected elements, parts or components.

It has been the practice in the past, in the large-scale manufacture or mass-production of such pivotal constructions or hinge-assemblies, to provide one of the two pivotally connected members with a pivot-hole and to provide the other of the pivotally connected members with a rivet-hole of smaller diameter, and to connect the two members by means of a combination head, pivot and rivet unit which includes a pivot or pivot portion nesting in the pivot-hole of the pivoted member and a rivet or rivet portion of smaller diameter extending into the rivet-hole of the other member, with a shoulder between the pivot and the rivet, against which shoulder the riveted member is secured by the riveting, staking or other transverse enlargement of the outer end of the rivet portion; the pivoted member being revolvably retained on the pivot portion between the head (at the other end of the pivot portion) and the riveted member.

In such prior practice, the objective was to make the axial dimension or length of the pivot portion approximately equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the pivoted member mounted thereon, namely, a few thousandths of an inch (i.e. 0.005, more or less) longer than the thickness of the pivoted member, so that when the adjacent riveted member is firmly secured against the aforementioned shoulder by the riveting, staking or other transverse enlargement of the outer end of the rivet portion, the pivoted member would be neatly confined between the facing surface of the riveted member and the facing surface of the head, with just the desired running clearance so that there would be neither any considerable axial play between the two members (thus pivotally secured to each other) nor such tight fit or binding therebetween as to require undue force to turn the one member in relation to the other, about the pivot-axis.

However, because of normal manufacturing variations in metal-thickness or wall-thickness of the pivoted member and possible surface variations of the riveted member, and also because of slight manufacturing variations in the axial dimension or length of the pivot or pivot portion, it has been quite difiicult or impractical in the past to maintain any fixed or reasonably close performance standards in the final hinge-assembly, particularly in regard to the amount of force or forces necessary to operate the hinge-assembly, because in some assemblies the pivoted member would be quite freely movable or revolvable about the pivot, with excessive axial play, while in other assemblies the pivoted member would be quite tight (between the riveted member and the head of the rivet-pivot and head unit), and would require considerable force to swing it about the pivot because it would be seized (to varying degrees) between the head and the adjacent riveted member of the assembly.

Thus, by way of illustration or example, the nominal thickness of ll-gauge sheet-steel is 0.1196, but in the standard commercial grade ll-gauge sheet-steel can vary from 0.1121" to 0.1270", or can be as much as 0.0075" under and as much as 00074" over its nominal dimension. Similarly, IO-gauge sheet-steel (in standard commercial grade) has a nominal thickness of 0.1345"; with a manufacturing tolerance of from 0.1270 to 0.1419, or can be as much as 0.0075" under nominal thickness and as much as 0.0074" over nominal thickness. The variations in thickness (from nominal thickness) of a batch of sheet-steel from the same run (of a plate-rolling mill), may be less than the maximum permissible range aboveindicated. Nevertheless, even the sheets of a batch from the same run may vary (from the nominal thickness) plus or minus 0.0025 to 0.0040" or more.

The object of the present invention is to compensate for or to accommodate the variations in the thickness of the pivoted member and also to compensate for and accommodate variations in the axial length of the pivot, and to achieve a more uniform and reliable pivotal connection or hinge-assembly, namely, one which would not vary between the extremes of an excessively loose axial fit, on the one hand, and an excessively tight axial fit, on the other hand, and so that mass-produced hinge-assemblies or mechanisms embodying pivotally connected members will operate smoothly and without undue free play and with the force required for their operation being more nearly uniform (or within a permissible range) and of the optimum order of magnitude for the particular enduse.

Other objects of the present invention will appear more fully from the following description and accompanying drawings, hereinafter briefly described.

FIGURE 1 represents an enlarged diagrammatic or schematic elevational View, partly in vertical section, of fragmentary portions of two members to be pivotally or hingedly secured to each other, the flanged pivot-andrivet unit therein, and of an upper staking punch or rivetenlarging tool and a lower anvil-like die by which the method of the present invention may be carried out, on a scale approximately four times actual size; shown before the rivet portion of the flanged pivot-and-rivet unit has been staked or enlarged.

FIGURE 2 represents a view similar to FIGURE 1, but showing the pivotal assembly after the staking punch or other rivet-enlarging tool has been pressed against the free end of the rivet or rivet portion (at one end of the pivot portion) so as to upset it and after the head or flange (at the other end of the pivot portion) has been deformed in the direction of the pivot portion.

FIGURES 1 and 2 illustrate the present invention with the pivoted member having a thickness approximately the same as or closely approaching or only slightly less than the axial dimension or length of the pivot or pivot portion.

FIGURES 3 and 4 are like FIGURES l and 2, respectively, but showing a pivoted member having a thickness substantially less than the thickness of the pivoted member in FIGURES 1 and 2, and hence illustrating the manner in which the variation in the thickness of the pivoted member is compensated for or accommodated by the pivotal construction or hinge-assembly and the method of the present invention: the pivot length being the same as in FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 5 is an end view of the head pivot-and-rivet unit or flanged pivot-and-rivet unit, viewed from its smaller or rivet-end thereof; shown on a scale approximately one half that of FIGURES 1 to 4.

' mechanical assembly.

FIGURE 6 represents an end view of the staking punch shown in FIGURES 1 to '4; shown on the same scale as that of FIGURE 5. a

The pivoted member 1 and the riveted member 2 (which are to be pivotally secured to each other), may be any two. mechanical elements of a mechanism or Thus, for intance, the member 2 may be a stationary bracket to. be secured to some stationary part of an automobile or other machinery or device, while the member 1 may be a lever, link, arm, segment or other part or element to be pivotally mounted in relation to the member 2. However, the member 2 may also be movable member. Thus, member 1 and 2 may each be movable. members as, for instance, two movable links. or other elements of a mechanism.

The thicknesses of the members 1 and 2 shown in the drawings, are merely illustrative.

The combined (and preferably integral) head, pivot and rivet unit or flanged pivot-and-rivet unit 3 includes a pivot portion 4 (hereinafter generally referred to as the pivot) and a rivet portion 5 of smaller diameter (hereinafter generally referred to as the rivet) and a shoulder 6 between the pivot and rivet and an enlarged head or flange 7 at the other end ofthe pivot 4.

' The flanged pivot-and-rivet unit 3 may be formed of any suitable steel (or other suitable metal)ihaving the appropriate malleability or ductility and strength as, for example, S;A.E. :10 or A.I.S.I. C1010 steel.

The head or flange 7 of the unit 3 is of a diameter sufficiently larger than the diameter of the pivot 4 and has a sufficiently small axial, dimension in relation to its ductility or malleability that it may be deformed in the manner indicated in FIGURES 2 and 4 (and described hereinbelow); when its outer periphery or rim is supported upon the annular anvilelike, flange-supporting surface 8 of the die 9 and the free end 10 of the rivet 5 is upset or transversely enlarged by a staking punch, as, for instance the star; type staking punch 12- shown in the drawir'igs', or any other suitable stem-enlarging tool which exerts. substantial axial force against the free end. 10 of the r'ivet 5' in the direction of the arrow 11 when operated to effect atransverse enlargement of the rivet 5.

Thus, for instance, for a pivot-diameter and a FAMrivt-diameter, the outer diameter; of the flange 7 may be so, that the radial dimension of the flange (beyond the periphery of the pivot is while the axial dimension or thickness of the flange may be 43" (more or less), with the outer peripheral corner of the flange preferably rounded in cross-section as indicated in the drawings.

The flanged pivot-and-rivet unit 3 may be entirely solid or partly or entirely tubular, and the upsetting tool or rivet-enlarging tool may be either a staking tool similar to that shown in the drawings ormay be anyotherrivetenlarging tool which will upset the free outer end 10 of the rivet 5 of the unit 3. by exerting a substantial axial force on the free end of the rivet.

In FIGURES l and 2, on the one hand, and in FIG- URES 3 and 4, on the other hand, I have shown pivoted members 1 of two different thicknesses, to illustrate the variations in clearances which may occur in the manufacture of such components, either due to variations in the thickness of the sheet-metal from which the pivoted members 1 are stamped or due to other variations in manufacture as, for instance, the variations in axial length of the pivot portion 4 of the unit 3. The variations in clearances shown in these figures are to illustrate the principle only.

Thus, the axial force exerted in the direction of the arrow 11 by the staking-punch or other. rivet-upsetting. rivet-heading or rivet-enlarging tool 12 against the free end 10 of the rivet 5, upsets the projecting end-portion 10 of the rivet 5 to increase its diameter or transverse dimension as indicated in FIGURES 2 and 4 to one substantially greater than the diameter of the rivet-hole 13 in the riveted member 2, and may also enlarge the portion of the rivet 5 which is inside the rivet-hole, and also deforms the flange 7 in the manner indicated in FIG- URES 2 and 4, so that the outermost peripheral portion or rim 14 of the face 15 thereof will be brought into closer proximity of the juxtaposed face 16 of the pivoted member 1, thereby to. reduce any axial clearance or play of the pivoted member 1 between the flange 7 and riveted member 2.

The difference between the axial dimension or length of the pivot 4 and the thickness of the pivoted member 1, and hence the total axial clearance for play of the pivoted member 1, between the flange 7 and the riveted member 1', without the. deformation ofthe flange. 7 in accordance with the present invention, is, the sum of they two clearances 19 and 21 indicated in FIGURES 1 and 3..

In order to permit the comparatively small clearances, to be clearly shown in the drawings, both the axial clearance as well as the radial clearances shown in. the drawings may be somewhat exaggerated.

The aforementioned deformation of the flange 7 may be. partly a displacement of the flange 7 as a whole along pivot 4' and partly a dishing or bending of the flange 7 towards the pivoted member 1.

The die-like tool or device 9 includes. an annular collarli ke work-supporting member 17 which surrounds the annular flange-supporting and flange-deforming anvil-surface 8, and rises above said flange-anvil 8' to a height slightly (0.002" to 0.005", more or less) greater than theaxial thickness of the flange 7 of the unit 3.; the excess of collarheight over flange-thickness being selected according to the axial fit desired for the pivoted member 1 (between the flange 7 and the riveted member 1). Thus, if a closer axial fit is desired, the excess of collar-height over flangethickness is reduced, while. if a looseraxial fit is desired, the excess of collar-height over flange-thickness is increased.

A recess 18 is provided within the annular flange-supporting and flange-deforming anvil-surface 8. The diameter of the recess 18, and hencethe inner diameter of the annular flange-anvil 8; is slightly greater than the diam-- eter of the pivot 4. Thus, for example, if the pivotdiameter is W the diameter of the recess 18 may be: /8", or (more or less). The axial. dimension or depth of the recess 18. is equal to or prefer-- ably slightly greater than the min-imurn difference between pivot-length and the thickness the pivoted memher 1 (less perhaps the aforementioned excess of collar height over flange-thickness). This would be determined by the minimum thickness of the pivoted member 1 in a batch or run.

The deformation of the head-like flange 7 in the direc-- tion of pivoted member 1 indicated in- FIGURES 2 and 4, maybe partly a displacement of the flange 7 along: the pivot 4; as though the pivot also included the inner cylindrical portion of the 'head which is within the projection of the cylinder of the-pivot and as though the head was only the head-like annular flange 7 which surrounds such cylindrical projection. Thus, the annular flange 7' is displaced or moved inwardly along what may be regarded as a composite pivot 20 which includes the actual pivot 4, and also the cylindrical projection thereof extending through the flange 7; the axial dimension or length of such composite pivot 20 being the length of' the actual pivot 5 plus the axial dimension of the flange 7. This displacement of the flange 7' along such composite pivot 20 results in the outer end of such composite pivo projecting beyond the flange 7, into the recess 18, to a greater or lesser extent depending on pivoted member 1 (indicated in FIGURES 2 and 4) also includes a slight dishing of the flange 7.

The result of such displacement of the flange as a whole, as well as result of such dishing, is to bring the outermost peripheral portion or rim 14 of the inner face 15 of the flange 7 closer to the pivoted member 1, thereby (in effect) shorteniru the pivot 4 in relation to the thickness of the pivoted member 1. By increasing the diameter of the recess in relation pivot-diameter, the extent of the dishing in relation to the axial displacement of the flange '7 as a whole along the composite pivot, is increased (for any given amount of the aforementioned pivot shortening"). Thus, for instance, by increasing the diameter of the recess 18 to or or 4" (with the pivot-diameter remaining a the dishing may be increased and the axial displacement of the flange 7 as a whole, (along the composite pivot 20), may be decreased for any given pivot-shortening, and vice versa.

The extent to which the outer rim 14 of the flange 7 as a whole is displaced axially and/ or is dished or bent inwardly may be varied according to the reduction in the axial clearance desired between the two pivotally connected members 1 and 2 or according to the running fit or frictional resistance desired between the two pivotally connected members, This may be controlled by the axial clearance 1? between the flange-thickness and collar-height and in part also by the difference between the diameter of the recess 18 and the diameter of the pivot 4.

In order more clearly to show its tip-bending or dishing, the flange 7 is shown in FIGURES 2 and 4 as being inclined upwardly from the anvil-surface S at a uniform angle. In actual practice, an innermost annular portion of the flange 7 may remain in abutting relation to the anvil-surface S or may rise therefrom at a much smaller angle than that shown in the drawing, while the outermost annular portion of the flange 7 may be inclined upwardly at a slightly greater angle than the innermost annular portion thereof.

I may also form the flange 7 on the so-called composite pivot 23 so that an axially outermost portion of the flange 7, as, for instance, a & or a /32" portion (more or less) of its thickness, extends beyond the outer end of such composite pivot 20, so as to provide a corresponding recess (having a depth of 4," or more or less) in the center of the flange 7, of a diameter approximately that of the pivot 5; thereby reducing the extent to which the outer end of the composite pivot 20 projects beyond the flange 7 for any given amount of axial 0 displacement of the flange 7 as a whole along such composite pivot" 2%. By this means, the outer end of the composite pivot 2r) may become approximately flush with the outer side of the flange 7 when the axial displacement of the flange as a whole is of an amount generally the same as the depth of such recess. By this means, the extent to which the outer end of such composite pivot 29' will project beyond the outer side of the flange 7, will be generaly equal to the difference between such axial displacement of the flange as a whole and the initial depth of such recess.

By the pivotal construction or hinge-assembly and method of the present invention, complete assemblies may be constructed, including one or more pivotal connections of components, with the forces necessary to produce motion in such assembly held within the optimum (specific) ranges of load-limits and with free axial play or clearances between pivotally connected members also kept within close optimum limits.

Having described an embodiment of my invention, I claim the following:

1. The method of making a hinge-assembly of two members to be pivotally connected with and secured to each other, one having a pivot-hole and the other having a substantially smaller rivet-hole, which comprises providing a malleable flanged pivot-and-rivet unit including a pivot having a diameter fitting within the aforementioned pivot-hole and having an axial length greater than the thickness of the aforementioned member having the pivot-hole and which is to be pivotally mounted thereon, a pro-formed integral flange at one end of the pivot having a diameter sufficiently greater than the diameter of the pivot and having an axial dimension sufliciently small in relation to its diameter and malleability to permit it to be deformed in the direction of the pivotally mounted member by axial force exerted thereon without enlargement of the pivot to such an extent as would bind it in its aforementioned pivot-hole, and a rivet extending from the other end of the pivot and having a cross-sectional area substantially smaller than the cross-sectional area of the pivot and wholly therewithin and having an axial length sufficiently great in relation to the thickness of the aforementioned member having the rivet-hole and which is to be secured thereon, to permit the outer end of the rivet to be upset axially so as to effect a transverse enlargement of a portion thereof, said flanged pivot-and rivet unit having a pro-formed seating shoulder between the pivot and the rivet thereof against which the lastmentioned member is adapted to be firmly riveted, placing the member having the pivot-hole on the pivot and placing the member having the rivet-hole on the rivet, transversely enlarging the outer end of the rivet so as firmly to secure the last-mentioned member against the aforementioned shoulder and firmly to bind the so enlarged pivot in its pivot-hole and permanently deforming the aforementioned pre-f-ormed flange of the pivot-and-rivet unit in the direction of the pivot so as to reduce the axial distance between the aforementioned shoulder and the rim of the flange without enlargement of the pivot as would bind it in its aforementioned pivot-hole and without said flange entering said pivot-hole as a result of the last-mentioned step.

2. The method of making a hinge-assembly of two members to be pivotally connected with and secured to each other, one having a pivot-hole and the other having a substantially smaller rivet-hole, which comprises providing a malleable flanged pivotand-rivet unit including a pivot having a diameter fitting within the aforementioned pivot-hole and having an axial length greater than the thickness of the aforementioned member having the pivothole and which is to be pivotally mounted thereon, a preformed integral flange at one end of the pivot having a diameter suflicicntly greater than the diameter of the pivot and having an axial dimension sufliciently small in relation to its diameter and malleability to permit it to be deformed in the direction of the pivotally mounted member by axial force exerted thereon Without enlargement of the pivot to such an extent as would bind it in its aforementioned pivot-hole, and a rivet extending from the other end of the pivot and having a cross-sectional area sub stantially smaller than the cross-sectional area of the pivot and wholly therewithin and having an axial length sufliciently great in relation to the thickness of the aforementioned member having the rivet-hole and which is to be secured thereon, to permit the outer end of the rivet to be upset axially so as to effect a transverse enlargemerit of a portion thereof, said flanged pivot-and-rivet unit having a pro-formed seating shoulder between the pivot and the rivet thereof against which the last-mentioncd member is adapted to be firmly riveted, placing the member having the pivot-hole on the pivot and placing the member having the rivet-hole on the rivet, transversely enlarging the'outer end of the rivet by axial swaging so as firmly to secure the last-mentioned member against the aforementioned shoulder and firmly to bind the so en larged pivot in its pivot-hole and simultaneously permanently deforming the aforementioned pro-formed flange of the pivot-and-rivet unit in the direction of the pivot so as to reduce the axial distance between the aforementioned shoulder and the rim of the flange without enlarge ment of the pivot as would bind it in its aforementioned pivot-hole and without said flange entering said pivothole as'a result of the last-mentioned step. 7

3; The method of making a hinge-assembly of two members to be pivotally connected with and secured to each other, one having a pivot-hole and the other having a substantially smaller rivet-hole, which comprises providing a malleable flanged pivot-and-rivet unit including a pivot having a diameter fitting within the aforementioned pivot-hole and having an axial length greater than the thickness of the aforementioned member having the pivothole and which is to be pivotally mounted thereon, a pre-formed integral flange at one end of the pivot having a diameter sufficiently greater than the diameter of thepivot and having an axial dimension sufliciently small in relation to its diameter and malleability to permit it to be deformed in' the direction of the pivotally mounted member by axial force exerted thereon without enlargement of the pivot to such an extent as would bind it in its aforementioned pivot-hole, and a rivet extending from the other end of the pivot and having a cross-sectional area substantially smaller than the cross-sectional area of the pivot and wholly therewithin and having an axial length sufliciently great in relation to the thickness of the aforementioned member having the rivet-hole and which is to be secured thereon, to permit the outer end of the rivet to be upset axially so as to effect a transverse enlargement of a portion thereof, said flanged pivot-and-rivet unit having a pre-formed seating shoulder between the pivot and the rivet thereof against which the last-mentioned member is adapted to be firmly riveted, placing the member having the pivot-hole on the pivot and placing the member having the rivet-hole on the rivet, transversely enlarging the outer end of the rivet so as firmly to secure the last-mentioned member against the aforementioned shoulder and firmly to bind the so enlarged pivot in its pivot-hole and permanently axially displacing the aforesubsta'ntiallysmaller rivet-hole, which comprises providing a malleable flanged pivot-and-rivet unit including a pivot having a diameter fitting within the aforementioned pivothole andhaving an axial length greater than the thickness of the aforementioned member having the pivot-hole and whichis to be pivotally mounted thereon, a pre-formed integral flange at one end of the pivot having a diameter s'ufliciently greater than the diameter of the pivot and having an axial dimension sufiiciently small in relation to its diameter and malleability to permit it to be deformed in the direction of the pivotally mounted member by axial force exerted thereon without enlargement of the pivot to such an extent as would bind it in its aforementioned pivot-hole, and a rivet extending from the other end of the pivot and having a cross-sectional area substantially smaller than the cross-sectional area of the pivot and wholly therewithin and having an axial length sufliciently great in relation to the thickness of the aforementioned member having the rivet-hole and which is to be secured thereon, to permit the outer end of the rivet to be upset axially so as to effect a transverse enlargement of a portion thereof, said flanged pivot-and-rivet unit having a pre-formed seating shoulder between the pivot and the rivet thereof against which the last-mentioned member is adapted to be firmly riveted, placing the member having the pivot-hole on the pivot and placing the member having the rivet-hole on the rivet, transversely enlarging the outer end of the rivet so as firmly to secure the lastmentioned member against the aforementioned shoulder and firmly to bind the so enlarged pivot in its pivot-hole and permanently dishing the aforementioned pre-formed flange in the direction of the pivotally mounted member so as to reduce the axial distance between the aforementioned shoulder and the rim of the flange to less than the axial length of the pivot without enlargement of the pivot as would bind it in its aforementioned pivot-hole and without the said flange entering said pivot-hole as a result of its aforementioned dishing.

5. The method of making a hinge-assembly of two members to be pivotally connected with and secured to each other, one having a pivot-hole and the other having a substantially smaller rivet-hole, which comprises providdiameter sufliciently greater than the diameter of the pivot and having an axial dimension sufliciently small in relation to its diameter and malleability to permit it to be deformed in the direction of the pivotally mounted member by axial force exerted thereon without enlargement of the pivot to such an extent as would bind it in its aforementioned pivot-hole, and a rivet extending from the other end of the pivot and having a cross-sectional area substantially smaller than the cross-sectional area of the pivot and wholly therewithin and having an axial length sufliciently great in relation to the thickness of the aforementioned member having the rivet-hole and which is to be secured thereon, to permit the outer end of the rivet to be upsetaxially so as to effect a transverse enlargement of a portion thereof, said flanged pivot-and-rivet unit having a pre-formed seating shoulder between the pivot and the rivet thereof against which the last-mentioned memher is adapted to be firmly riveted, placing the member having the pivot-hole on the pivot and placing the member having the rivet-hole on the rivet, transversely enlarging the outer end of the rivet so as firmly to secure the last-mentioned member against the aforementioned shoulder and firmly to bind the so enlarged pivot in its pivot-hole and permanently dishing the aforementioned pre-formed flange and axially displacing it as a Whole in relation to the pivot-and-rivet unit in the direction of the pivotally mounted member so as to reduce the axial distance between the aforementioned shoulder and the rim of flange entering said pivot-hole as a result of the last-mentioned step.

6. The method of making a hinge-assembly of two members to be pivotally connected with and secured to each other, one having a pivot-hole and the other having a substantially smaller rivet-hole, which comprises providing a malleable flanged pivot-and-rivet unit including a pivot having a diameter fitting Within the aforementioned pivot-hole and having an axial length greater than the thickness of the aforementioned member having the pivot-hole and which is to be pivotally mounted thereon, a pre-formed integral flange at one end of the pivot having a diameter sufliciently greater than the diameter of the pivot and having an axial dimension sufiiciently small in relation to its diameter and malleability to permit it to be deformed in the direction of the pivotally mounted member by axial force exerted thereon without enlargement of the pivot to such an extent as would bind it in its aforementioned pivot-hole, and a rivet extending from the other end of the pivot and having a cross-sectional'area substantially smaller than the cross-sectional area of the pivot and wholly therewithin and having an axial length sufficiently great in relation to the thickness of the aforementioned member having the rivet-hole and which is to be secured thereon, to permit the outer end of the rivet to be upset axially so as to effect a transverse enlargemeat of a portion thereof, said flanged pivot-and-rivet unit having a pro-formed seating shoulder between the pivot and the rivet thereof against which the last-mentioned member is adapted to be firmly riveted, placing the member having the pivot-hole on the pivot and placing the member having the rivet-hole on the rivet, axially swaging the outer end of the rivet, transversely to enlarge the outer end thereof so as firmly to secure the last-mentioned member against the aforementioned shoulder and firmly to bind the so enlarged pivot in its pivot-hole and simultaneously permanently dishing the aforementioned pro-formed flange and axially displacing it as a whole in relation to the pivot-and-rivet unit in the direction of the pivotally mounted member so as to reduce the axial di; tance between the aforementioned shoulder and the rim of the flange without enlargement of the pivot as would bind it in its aforementioned pivot-hole and without said flange entering said pivot-hole as a result of the last-mentioned step.

7. A pivotal construction in a hinge-assembly comprising two pivotally secured members, one being a pivoted member and the other being a riveted member, the former having a pivot-hole therethrough and the latter having a rivet-hole therethrough which is substantially smaller than the aforementioned pivot-hole, a flanged pivot-and-rivet unit including a pivot having a diameter fitting and disposed within said pivot-hole with working clearance and having an axial length greater than the thickness of the pivoted member mounted thereon and including a rivet extending from the end of the pivot which faces the riveted member and having a cross-section fitting within the rivet-hole thereof and extending therethrough, a pro-formed shoulder between the pivot and the rivet against which the riveted member bears, the outer end of said rivet being enlarged transversely to exceed the size of the rivet-hole and firmly to secure the riveted member against said shoulder, said pivot-and-rivet unit including an inwardly dished integral flange at the other end of said pivot, having a diameter substantially greater than the pivot-diameter and having a rim portion thereof extending towards the pivoted member, with the axial distance between said shoulder and the annular portion of the flange nearest thereto being less than the axial length of said pivot.

8. A pivotal construction in a hinge-assembly comprising two pivotally secured members, one being a pivoted member and the other being a riveted member, the former having a pivot-hole therethrough and the latter having a rivet-hole therethrough which is substantially smaller than the aforementioned pivot-hole, a flanged pivot-and-rivet unit including a pivot having a diameter fitting and disposed within said pivot-hole with working clearance and having an axial length greater than the thickness of the pivoted member mounted thereon and including a rivet extending from the end of the pivot which faces the riveted member and having a cross-section fitting within the rivet-hole thereof and extending therethrough, a preformed shoulder between the pivot and the rivet against which the riveted member bears, the outer end of said rivet being enlarged transversely to exceed the size of the rivet-hole and firmly to secure the riveted member against said shoulder, said pivot-and-rivet unit including an inwardly dished integral flange at the other end of said pivot, having a diameter substantially greater than the pivot-diameter and having a rim portion thereof extending towards the pivoted member, and the axial distance between the plane in which the aforementioned shoulder lies and the plane in which the rim portion of the dished flange nearest the pivoted member lies being less than the axial length of the pivot and substantially the same as the thickness of the pivoted member plus only the working clearance required for the pivotal movement of the two pivotally secured members in relation to each other.

9. The method of making a hinge-assembly of two members to be pivotally connected with and secured to each other, one having a pivot hole and the other having a substantially smaller rivet-hole, which comprises providing a malleable flanged pivot-and-rivet unit including a pivot having a diameter fitting within the aforementioned pivot-hole and having an axial length greater than the thickness of the aforementioned member having the pivot-hole and which is to be pivotally mounted thereon, a pre-formed integral flange at one end of the pivot having a diameter sufliciently greater than the diameter of the pivot and having an axial dimension sufliciently small in relation to its diameter and malleability to permit it to be deformed in the direction of the pivotally mounted member by axial force exerted thereon without enlargement of the pivot to such an extent as would bindTf in its aforementioned pivot-hole, and a rivet extending from the other end of the pivot and having a cross-sectional area substantially smaller than the cross-sectional area of the pivot and wholly therewithin and having an axial length sufiiciently great in relation to the thickness of the aforementioned member having the rivet-hole and which is to be secured thereon, to permit the outer end of the rivet to be upset axially so as to effect a transverse enlargement of a portion thereof, said flanged pivot-andrivet unit having a pro-formed seating shoulder between a the pivot and the rivet thereof against which the lastrnentioned member is adapted to be firmly riveted, placing the first-mentioned member having the pivot-hole on the pivot and placing the last-mentioned member having the rivethole on the rivet, supporting the first-mentioned member against axial displacement in the direction of said flange and supporting the flange against axial displacement in the same direction with a clearance between the flange and the first-mentioned member approximately the same as the overall axial clearance desired for the pivoted member in the resultant hinge assembly while leaving unsupported the portion of the pivot-and-rivet unit which is within the flange-annulus, and transversely enlarging the outer end of the rivet so as firmly to secure the lastmentioned member against the aforementioned shoulder and firmly to bind the so enlarged pivot in its pivot-hole and permanently axially deforming the aforementioned pro-formed flange in the direction of the first-mentioned member to the extent necessary to reduce the axial distance between the aforementioned shoulder and the flange to the thickness of the first-mentioned member plus a clearance of not more than the aforementioned initial clearance between the flange and the first-mentioned member.

10. The method according to claim 9, but in which the deformation of the flange is effected by the axial force exerted against the rivet to enlarge it transversely.

11. The method according to claim 9, in which the deformation of the flange includes the axial displacement of the flange as a whole in relation tothe pivot.

12. The method according to claim 11, in which the deformation of the flange is effected by the axial force exerted against the rivet to enlarge it transversely.

13. The method according to claim 9, in which the deformation of the flange includes the dishing of the flange.

14. The method according to claim 12, in which the deformation of the flange is effected by the axial force exerted against the rivet to enlarge it transversely.

15. The method according to claim 9, in which the deformation of the flange includes both the axial displacement thereof as a. whole in relation to the pivot and the dishing thereof.

16. The method according to claim 15, in which the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hertwig Dec. 31, 1907 Clark 'etral. Feb. 4, 1908 12 Mayo et a1 Mar. 31, 1931 Soss May 2, 1933 Atwood Apr. 16, 1935 Seiler Jan. 26, 1937 Huck Nov. 21, 1950 Scheeler June 12, 1951 Hollister Dec. 7, 1954 

1. THE METHOD OF MAKING A HINGE-ASSEMBLY OF TWO MEMBERS TO BE PIVOTALLY CONNECTED WITH AND SECURED TO EACH OTHER, ONE HAVING A PIVOT-HOLE AND THE OTHER HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY SMALLER RIVET-HOLE, WHICH COMPRISES PROVIDING A MALLEABLE FLANGED PIVOT-AND-RIVET UNIT INCLUDING A PIVOT HAVING A DIAMETER FITTING WITHIN THE AFOREMENTIONED PIVOT-HOLE AND HAVING AN AXIAL LENGHT GREATER THAN THE THICKNESS OF THE AFOREMENTIONED MEMBER HAVING THE PIVOT-HOLE AND WHICH IS TO BE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED THEREON, A PRE-FORMED INTEGRAL FLANGE AT ONE END OF THE PIVOT HAVING A DIAMETER SUFFICIENTLY GREATER THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE PIVOT AND HAVING AN AXIAL DIMENSION SUFFICIENTLY SMALL IN RELATION TO ITS DIAMETER AND MALLEABILITY TO PERMIT IT TO BE DEFORMED IN THE DIRECTION OF THE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED MEMBER BY AXIAL FORCE EXERTED THEREON WITHOUT ENLARGEMENT OF THE PIVOT TO SUCH AN EXTENT AS WOULD BIND IT IN ITS AFOREMENTIONED PIVOT-HOLE, AND A RIVET EXTENDING FROM THE OTHER END OF THE PIVOT AND HAVING A CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF AREA SUBSTANTIALLY SMALLER THAN THE CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF THE PIVOT AND WHOLLY THEREWITHIN AND HAVING AN AXIAL LENGHT SUFFICIENTLY GREAT IN RELATION TO THE THICKNESS OF THE AFOREMENTIONED MEMBER HAVING THE RIVET-HOLD AND WHICH IS TO BE SECURED THERON, TO PERMIT THE OUTER END OF THE RIVET TO BE UPSET AXIALLY SO AS TO EFFECT A TRANSVERSE ENLARGEMENT OF A PORTION THEREOF, SAID FLANGED PIVOT-ANDRIVET UNIT HAVING A PRE-FORMED SEATING SHOULDER BETWEEN THE PIVOT AND THE RIVET THEREOF AGAINST WHICH THE LASTMENTIONED MEMBER IS ADAPTED TO BE FIRMLY RIVETED, PLACING THE MEMBER HAVING THE PIVOT-HOLE ON THE PIVOT AND PLACING THE MEMBER HAVING THE RIVET-HOLE ON THE RIVET, TRANSVERSELY ENLARGING THE OUTER END OF THE RIVET SO AS FIRMLY TO SECURE THE LAST-MENTIONED MEMBER AGAINST THE AFOREMENTIONED SHOULDER AND FIRMLY TO BIND THE SO ENLARGED PIVOT IN ITS PIVOT-HOLE AND PERMANENTLY DEFORMING THE AFOREMENTIONED PRE-FORMED FLANGE OF THE PIVOT-AND-RIVET UNIT IN THE DIRECTION OF THE PIVOT SO AS TO REDUCE THE AXIAL DISTANCE BETWEEN THE AFOREMENTIONED SHOULDER AND THE RIM OF THE FLANGE WITHOUT ENLARGEMENT OF THE PIVOT AS WOULD BIND IT IN ITS AFOREMENTIONED PIVOT-HOLE AND WITHOUT SAID FLANGE ENTERING SAID PIVOT-HOLE AS A RESULT OF THE LAST-MENTIONED STEP. 